New job? Was it the pay packet or the flexi-time?

Looking for a new job is not all about trousering a fatter pay packet - but of course that helps.

For more than a third (36 per cent) of respondents to a silicon.com reader poll, the most important factor when job hunting is actually a new challenge. But the lure of filthy lucre is still the key driving force for nearly a third (27 per cent) of readers.

Skills Survey 2007

Find out the results of this year's Skills Survey:

♦  Are CIOs getting less cash?
♦ How the staffing crisis is deepening
♦ How techie salaries are faring
♦ Offshoring still a hot potato
♦  Banks hardest hit by staff crisis
♦ Industry falling out of love with IT grads

This year's silicon.com Skills Survey revealed IT salaries are largely holding to 2006 levels - although more people are creeping into the top earning bracket, where they enjoy in excess of £110k per year. The largest proportion of respondents to the survey, however, have a much more modest pay packet, of around £25k to £40k per year.

Flexible working is relatively low on the priorities list: it wins out over a new challenge and better wages for just 17 per cent of poll respondents. Reducing stress is even less important: just 15 per cent of readers said it is the most important factor when job hunting.

However, a lucky five per cent of readers already have their ideal job - they said nothing would make them change jobs as they love their work too much to leave.